TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a spacer for maintaining one or more wires, or
one or more harnesses, or bundles or generally speaking pieces to be maintained, in
particular during molding process, and a method of manufacturing over molded wires.
This is of interest in the automotive industry in particular.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Highly resistant polyurethane foam sealing of single wires or wire bundles is a standard
sealing for firewall grommets. Polyurethane foam can be used also for other applications,
for example splice over molding, rigid wiring and ring terminal sealing cups.
[0003] The common way of creating polyurethane product on wires harnesses is injection of
polyurethane material into a mold (or mould) through which wire harness is passing.
[0004] Nowadays, in wire / harness molding process, operators need to take extra care to
manually shape the wire / wire harness in the mold to ensure that no wires are touching
the mold. However, after the closing of the mold, there is no feedback or insurance
that wires are still in the desired position. This has at least the following disadvantages:
there is a risk of damaging the wires during the closing of the mold, there is difficulty
to place the wire / harness and position it in the mold, there is a risk of visible
wires after molding process on product surface, and there is a risk of short circuit.
[0005] Customer-specific wiring harness production is bringing challenge which is wire harness
diameter depended from the car specification ordered by the end customer. With high
content wire harness, there is a risk that wires can touch the mold surface (i.e.
cavity surface of the mold) which can lead to jeopardizing sealing capabilities of
the overmolding part and to create the risk of shortcut. That is to say, the wire
touching the mold surface is not fully covered by the polyurethane and thereby the
wire is not fully over molded and badly protected.
[0006] Additionally, there is a need to (over) mold very long components on the harness.
This leads to the situation where a wire harness or generally speaking a piece to
be maintained, under its own weight or due to geometry, can sag within the mold, thereby
causing the same risk as described before. That is to say, the wire (or wire harness,
or a part of the bundle) may fall down due to its own weight and touch the mold, so
that said wire will not be correctly over molded by the sealing material (such as
polyurethane), and thereby will be badly protected. The same situation may be caused
by 3D shape of the product, like twisted S shape which even in vertical mold can cause
issues (that is to say issues are not only due to gravity but also shapes of the parts).
The document
GB2243254A discloses a spacer for two or more cables or cable cores comprising a star-shaped
body of stiff material having radial arms locating the cores or cables at a predetermined
distance from each other, and an annulus of stiff material encompassing said cables
or cores.
[0007] However, there is not the possibility of adjustment to a variety of cable diameters
nor the possibility to correctly allow the molding of the sealing material therein,
due to the plain shape and the sealing flow resistance.
[0008] Therefore, there is a need for another kind of solution that is a good trade-off
for overcoming the different drawbacks of the prior art.
[0009] In particular, there is a need to solve the problems of decentralization of pieces
to be maintained such as a wire harness within the mold during sealant (e.g. polyurethane)
process, of wire harness sagging within the mold (especially with long and/or 3D products),
and of minimum distance of harness to the mold and its effect on polyurethane over
molding surface.
SUMMARY
[0010] The present disclosure concerns a spacer for maintaining one or more pieces during
a molding process, the spacer having:
- an external frame, and
- a plurality of spring curved leaves,
wherein each spring curved leaf has a fixed end attached to an inner face of the external
frame and a free end, and
wherein the free ends of the plurality of spring curved leaves are arranged to flexibly
wrap the one or more pieces to be maintained.
[0011] A leaf may be defined as a thin sheet or plate of any substance. That is, the spring
curved leaf is a leaf which is curved, is flexible and allows for a spring effect
(elastic return force). Flexible is to be understood as capable of movement, in contrast
with the external frame which is rigid. What is to be understood by wrap may be to
envelop and secure for transportation or storage, that is to say to embrace, to enfold,
or to surround. A spacer is a device or piece used to create or maintain a desired
amount of space, that is to say to maintain a distance between the one or more pieces
to be maintained (e.g. wires) held by the spacer and the mold (in particular inner
surface of the mold, that is to say in the mold cavity surface).
[0012] This allows to provide an easier manufacturing of the spacer and the one or more
pieces to be maintained (e.g. wires) to be over molded, in particular for easy installation
on a wire harness (or harnesses, or wire(s)). An over molded wire or overmolded piece
to be maintained, is understood as a wire or a piece to be maintained which is covered
or surrounded by a sealing material, such as polyurethane. The one or more pieces
to be maintained may be one or more wires. Instead of (electrical) wires, pneumatic
tubes, fiber optics, and the like may also be present in the bundle or being even
directly wrapped by the spacer, and are examples of pieces to be maintained (or clamped).
That is, a wire is something (such as a thin plant stem) that is wirelike in a general
meaning; or to be more specific, an electrical wire and the like.
[0013] Further, this allows to provide a spacer, also called fishbone insert, which could
be preinstalled on the piece(s) to be maintained, wire(s), or harness(es), to firstly
ensure that all around the harness there is a minimum distance to the mold surface,
to secondly eliminate harness sagging by supporting its weight, and thirdly ensure
that harness routing passing the mold is substantially following nominal center line
(in particular theoretical nominal center line designed by CAD, computer-aided design,
e.g. 3D CAD). The spacer can be called a fishbone insert because it can be defined
as a set or network of elongated components (like bones of a fish, corresponding to
the spring curved leaves) having free ends and connected by fixed portions to a spine
(corresponding to the external frame) being a skeleton or a structural framework.
[0014] Still further, this allows to provide a spacer or fishbone insert designed to cover
all harness diameters, in particular within a car project. This allows to be designed
as a single piece component which can be simply clipped on the pieces to be maintained,
on wire harness or a few-part component which can be assembled on the harness with
usage of its own locks or additional component such as cable ties.
[0015] That is, the spacer according to the present disclosure allows to provide a correct
centralization of the pieces to be maintained (e.g. wire harness) inside the mold
prior to injection process, to eliminate (limit, suppress or compensate) the wire
harness sagging under its own weight, to eliminate (limit, suppress or compensate)
wire harness sagging due to 3D shape of polyurethane component, and additional tension
brought with this, to correct flow of polyurethane material to the wires, and to provide
compatibility with polyurethane foam not to lower or decrease sealing function.
[0016] The present disclosure significantly improves spacer and molding process, especially
the part which is operator dependent and then completely random.
[0017] The spacer according to the present disclosure thereby allows for an easier wire
/ harness placement in the mold, an easier spacer installation on the wire / harness,
the elimination of loose wires which can be smashed during closing of the mold, the
elimination of visible wire after the molding process, the elimination of short circuit
risk due to wires visible on sealing material (such as polyurethane) product surface,
and more flexibility in matter of processing different harness diameters.
[0018] The spacer according to the present disclosure enables development of a completely
new line of polyurethane composite products, which could be more compact as spacers
eliminate the need to design with extra wall thickness in order to compensate harness
or single wire displacement from the center line.
[0019] Advantageously, the free ends are movable between :
- a first position so as to define a first wrapping portion, and
- at least a second position, different from the first position, so as to define a second
wrapping portion.
[0020] Advantageously, the first wrapping portion and the second wrapping portion are defined
by a surface of the free end arranged to be in contact with the one or more pieces
to be maintained (e.g. wires). That is, the first wrapping portion and the second
wrapping portion can be a plurality of lines of contact (or surfaces or thin surfaces)
of the free ends on the one or more wires. The difference between the first wrapping
portion and the second wrapping portion is that they are placed in different diameters
to allow different diameter of wires to be held in place.
[0021] Advantageously, the first wrapping portion and the second wrapping portion are cavities
receiving the one or more pieces to be maintained (e.g. wires).
[0022] Advantageously, each free end is arranged to be in contact with the one or more pieces
to be maintained.
[0023] This allows to provide an improved support to the one or more wires, in particular
to allow for a flexible support and an adjustment in case of introduction of wires
of different diameters. That is, the spacer allows to receive wires of different diameters,
or to better maintain a plurality of wires at the same time.
[0024] Advantageously, the free ends extends inwardly.
[0025] Advantageously, the spring curved leaves extend in a direction having a radial component
and a tangential component.
[0026] Advantageously, the external frame has an external surface (or external face) and
a groove for a cable tie arranged on the external surface, preferably circumferentially.
[0027] This allows to facilitate the fixation of the spacer holding the one or more wires
with a cable tie.
[0028] Advantageously, the spacer further has a hinged portion and a lock portion, preferably
opposed to the hinged portion, and wherein the spacer is arranged to define :
- an opened position wherein the one or more pieces to be maintained can be introduced
in the spacer, and
- a closed position wherein the one or more pieces to be maintained can be wrapped by
the spacer at the level of the free ends.
[0029] This allows to facilitate the manufacturing of the one or more over molded wires,
in particular by facilitating the introduction of the one or more wires in the spacer
so as to be held in place.
[0030] Advantageously, the spacer further has at least one lock portion.
[0031] This allows to provide a fixation system between two portions of the spacer, thereby
facilitating the manufacturing.
[0032] Advantageously, each spring curved leaf has a curvature with an internal curved portion
and an external curved portion, and the plurality of spring curved leaves is arranged
so as to contact the one or more pieces to be maintained on the internal curved portion
or on the external curved portion.
[0033] In other words, each spring curved leaf extends at an oblique angle from the inner
face of the external frame and has a curvature such that the free end of each curved
leaf is configured to contact the one or more pieces to be maintained on a concave
side of the curvature or on a convex side of the curvature.
[0034] This allows to improve the support of the one or more pieces to be maintained (e.g.
wires).
[0035] Advantageously, the external frame has at least one outside pin.
[0036] This allows to improve the positioning of the spacer by locating the outside pin
in a corresponding (milled) pocket of the mold. In another variant, the pin is only
touching the cavity surface, assuring that no outer face of the insert is not visible,
to allow to have more sealant on the outside for a better mechanical integrity. Advantageously,
the spacer is made out of plastic or resin, and could be integrally formed.
[0037] This allows to provide an easy manufacturing.
[0038] A second aspect of the present disclosure concerns a method for over molding one
or more pieces to be maintained, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one spacer according to the first aspect,
- providing one or more pieces to be maintained (or one or more harnesses, or a bundle
of these),
- installing in a mold the at least one spacer, and the one or more pieces to be maintained
in contact with free ends of the spacer,
- injecting a sealing material, such as polyurethane, in the mold so as to over mold
the one or more pieces to be maintained.
[0039] This allows to facilitate the manufacturing and the over molding of one or more pieces
to be maintained (e.g. wires). This also allows to have the above mentioned effects
and advantages, as explained with respect to the first aspect.
[0040] Advantageously, the method further has the step of:
- opening the mold so as to extract the one or more over molded pieces to be maintained.
[0041] This allows to manufacture the one or more over molded wires and to extract it from
the mold.
[0042] Advantageously, the spacer has an external frame with at least one outside pin, and
the method further has the step of :
- placing the at least one outside pin of the spacer in at least one pocket of the mold.
[0043] This allows to provide an improvement of the localization of the spacer in the mold,
so as to ensure the correct over molding of the one or more wires.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] Other features, purposes and advantages of the disclosure will become more explicit
by means of reading the detailed statement of the nonrestrictive embodiments made
with reference to the accompanying drawings
[fig. 1] illustrates a spacer according to a first embodiment with pieces to be maintained
therein, in a mold,
[fig. 2] illustrates the spacer according to the first embodiment, in another mold,
[fig. 3] illustrates the spacer according to the first embodiment with a first wire
therein,
[fig. 4] illustrates the spacer according to the first embodiment with a second wire,
[fig. 5] illustrates the spacer according to a second embodiment with a hinged portion,
in an opened position,
[fig. 6] illustrates the spacer according to a third embodiment with a groove for
a cable tie,
[fig. 7] illustrates the spacer according to a fourth embodiment with lock portions,
[fig. 8] illustrates the spacer according to a fifth embodiment with a rectangular
external frame and outside pins,
[fig. 9] illustrates the spacer according to a sixth embodiment with oval shape.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] The present disclosure relates to a spacer for allowing space between pieces to be
maintained and a mold, in a molding process, so as to provide high quality over molding
of the pieces.
[0046] Figure 1 illustrates three spacers 1 according to a first embodiment with pieces
to be maintained 100 therein, in a mold 200. In the present embodiment, the pieces
to be maintained 100 may be wires.
[0047] The mold 200 has an entry portion 201 and an exit portion 202.
[0048] Each spacer 1 is positioned in the mold 200. The wires 100 are positioned inside
each spacer 1, and follow the path defined by both the spacers 1 and the mold 200.
[0049] A sealing material, such as polyurethane (PUR), can be introduced in the mold 200,
in order to over mold the pieces to be maintained (e.g. wires) 100. Injection channel
and air vents are not represented in the drawings. The mold 200 may be adapted for
PUR foaming process or PUR potting process, in particular with respect to entry portion
201, exit portion 202, injection channel and air vents , and the like, as necessary.
[0050] That is, as the spacers 1 allows to avoid that the pieces to be maintained (e.g.
wires) 100 directly touch the mold 200, the pieces to be maintained (e.g. wires) 100
can be entirely over molded and correctly protected, without any piece to be maintained
(e.g. wire) 100 uncovered by the sealing material.
[0051] Figure 2 illustrates the spacer 1 according to the first embodiment, in another mold
200. The other mold 200 has also the entry portion 201 and the exit portion 202.
[0052] The wires are examples of pieces to be maintained, and the description is generally
applicable to any piece to be maintained.
[0053] For sake of brevity, the term wire is used hereafter. The spacer 1 maintains the
wires 100 in a desired path, so that none of the wires 100 directly touch the mold
200. Thereby, a correct over molding of the wires 100 is achieved.
[0054] Figure 3 illustrates the spacer 1 according to the first embodiment with a first
wire 101 therein, which is an example of a first piece to be maintained. The first
wire 101 is an example of wires 100, and may also be a bundle or a harness having
the same shape of first wire 101.
[0055] The spacer 1 has an external frame 2 supporting a plurality of spring curved leaves
3. Each of the spring curved leaves 3 has a fixed end 4 attached to an inner face
(or inner surface) of the external frame 2. Each spring curved leaf 3 further has
a free end 5. The free ends 5 are arranged to flexibly wrap the first wire 101 as
shown in figure 3. That is, the free ends 5 of the spring curved leaves 3 defines
a first wrapping portion 91, having a first diameter matching with the diameter of
the first wire 101. The free ends 5 are represented in figure 3 in a first position.
Each free end 5 is arranged to be in contact with the first wire 101. Thereby, a flexible
support and wrapping is provided to the first wire 101. That is, each spring curved
leaf 3 extends at an oblique angle from the inner face of the external frame 2 and
has a curvature such that the free end 5 of each curved leaf 3 is configured to contact
the first wire 101 on a concave side of the curvature (or on a convex side of the
curvature as illustrated in figure 8). In other words, the spring curved leaf 3 has
an elongate shape with the fixed end 4, also called proximal portion, supported by
the external frame and projecting inwardly (i.e. to an inside of the spacer 1), and
with the free end 5, also called distal portion. The distal portion is provided with
a contact surface (or a contact line) arranged to contact the first wire 101 and maintain
it, in cooperation with the other contact surfaces of the other spring curved leaves
3.
[0056] Figure 4 illustrates the spacer 1 according to the first embodiment with a second
wire 102, which is an example of a second piece to be maintained.
[0057] The reference number are kept as far as possible with respect to the different figures.
[0058] The second wire 102 is an example of wires 100, and may also be a bundle or a harness
having the same shape of second wire 102.
[0059] The free ends 5 of the spring curved leaves 3 defines a second wrapping portion 92,
having a second diameter matching with the diameter of the second wire 102. The free
ends 5 are represented in figure 4 in a second position. Each free end 5 is arranged
to be in contact with the second wire 102. The diameter of the second wire 102 is
greater than the diameter of the first wire 101 in the example shown in figures 3-4.
[0060] Thereby, a flexible support and wrapping is provided to the second wire 102, with
the same spacer 1 as for the first wire 101 having a smaller diameter.
[0061] In other words, the free ends 5 are movable between :
- a first position so as to define the first wrapping portion 91, and
- the second position, different from the first position, so as to define the second
wrapping portion 92.
[0062] The first position corresponding to the first wrapping portion 91 may be considered
as a rest position when no load is applied on the free ends 5 (and on the spring curved
leaves 3), due to a nominal diameter corresponding to the first wire 101. The second
position corresponding to the second wrapping portion 92 may be considered as a work
position when a load is applied on the free ends 5 (and on the spring curved leaves
3), due to the diameter of the second wire 102 which is bigger than the nominal diameter.
[0063] Further, the spring curved leaves 5 allows for an improved flow resistance of the
sealing material (e.g. polyurethane) when introduced in the mold 200, so as to facilitate
the correct repartition of the sealing material in the mold 200 and improving the
correct over molding of the wires 100.
[0064] In an embodiment, it is to be noted that the fixed end 4 may be attached to the inner
face of the external frame by a flexible anchoring portion, to further adjust and
improve the flexibility of the spring curved leaves 3.
[0065] Figure 5 illustrates the spacer 1 according to a second embodiment with a hinged
portion 12, in an opened position.
[0066] The reference number are kept as far as possible between the different figures and
different embodiments.
[0067] In the opened position, the wires 100 can be easily placed in the spacer 1, and the
spacer 1 can be closed thereafter.
[0068] The spacer 1 may have a lock portion having a hook 10 and a groove 11 arranged to
retain the hook 10. Thereby, the spacer 1 can be maintained in a closed position and
retain the wires 100.
[0069] Figure 6 illustrates the spacer 1 according to a third embodiment with a groove 20
for a cable tie.
[0070] That is, after the wires 100 are being over molded with the sealing material, the
groove 20 may receive a cable tie (not shown) in order to fix the over molded wires
100 onto a support or the like, for final use of the wires 100. The groove 20 is preferably
circumferential is order to receive the cable tie. The groove 20 is preferably placed
on an outer surface of the external frame 2, the outer face being opposite to the
inner face.
[0071] In another aspect, it is possible to use the cable ties as a fixation method for
the insert itself, to keep both half portion locked together on the harness, especially
with a big harness inside Figure 7 illustrates the spacer 1 according to a fourth
embodiment with lock portions.
[0072] The spacer 1 may have for example two lock portions having the grooves 11 and the
hooks 10, so as to maintain the spacer 1 in the closed position. The grooves 11 are
arranged to cooperate with the hooks 10 so as to maintain the spacer 1 in a closed
position. Figure 8 illustrates the spacer 1 according to a fifth embodiment with a
rectangular external frame 2 and outside pins 30.
[0073] The rectangular external frame 2 is an example of external frame 2.
[0074] The external frame 2 has outside pins 30. The outside pins 30 may be located in milled
pockets of the mold 200 so as to better placed and locate the spacer 1 in the mold
200. Also, they can be used to create space for sealant to fully cover the outside
face of the external frame.
[0075] As illustrated in figure 8, each spring curved leaf 3 extends at the oblique angle
from the inner face of the external frame 2 and has the curvature such that the free
end 5 of each curved leaf 3 is configured to contact the one or more pieces to be
maintained 100, 101, 102 on a convex side of the curvature. This is to be compared
with figure 3 wherein the contact between the one or more pieces to be maintained
100, 101, 102 is on the concave side of the curvature. It is to be noted the oblique
angle may be adapted according to the configuration. That is, each of the spring curved
leaves 3 has the curvature. The wrapping portion 93 is represented in figure 8 and
is defined by external portions of the spring curved leaves 3, on an external side
of their curvature, that is to say on the convex side of the curvature.
[0076] In contrast, in figures 3-7, the wrapping portions 91-92 are formed by internal portions
of the spring curved leaves 3, on an internal side of their curvature, that is to
say on their concave side.
[0077] Figure 9 illustrates the spacer 1 according to a sixth embodiment with an oval shape.
[0078] The spacer 1 has an oval shape so as to be adaptable to a desired shape of the over
molded wires 100.
[0079] The spacer 1 is also represented with the hook 10, the outside pins 30, the external
frame 2 and the spring curved leaves 3.
[0080] That is, the spacer 1 according to the above embodiments, also called fishbone inserts,
are designed to ensure that the spacer 1 is suitable to accommodate differences in
harness/wire diameters with constant outer diameter of the space, so as to match the
mold cavity of the mold 200 and match the shape of the final product.
[0081] The spacer 1 has a plurality of spring curved leaves (also called internal leaves)
which are flexible and can bend accordingly to match the shape and size of harness/wire
inside.
[0082] It can also be applied on single wires or any other object to be over molded. The
internal structure could also be shaped to fit a rectangular shape (as shown in figure
8) with spring like structures having the same final effect.
[0083] Outside walls of the spacer 1 (i.e. external frame 2) are thick enough so as to keep
their geometry and diameter constant.
[0084] The spacer geometry can be adjusted according to the sealing final desired shape.
The same applies for further consideration of the quantity and shapes of spring curved
leaves 3 inside the spacer 1.
[0085] Outside pins 30 are useful to:
- minimize spacer area which can be exposed on final sealing material product,
- protect the spacer 1 from being covered by release agent present on the mold walls,
- fix position between the spacer 1 and the mold 200 (mold can be prepared with milled
pockets in which those outside pins 30 can be registered to move forward with injection).
[0086] After closing the mold, injection of sealing material (e.g. polyurethane) is performed.
[0087] Due to the spring curved leaves 3, the sealing material can easily flow between them
assuring correct filling of the mold 200 and stable molding process.
[0088] The spacer 1 can be made from material compatible with the sealing material to ensure
a good adherence. The sealing material is preferably polyurethane but can also be
PVC, PA, TPU or any suitable material.
[0089] After the process, the final product (i.e. the one or more over molded wires / harnesses
/ bundle) can be de-molded (i.e. removed from the mold 200).
[0090] It will be understood that various modifications and/or improvements obvious to the
person skilled in the art may be made to the various embodiments of the disclosure
described in the present description without departing from the scope of the disclosure
defined by the appended claims. The different embodiments can be combined whenever
possible.
1. A spacer (1) for maintaining one or more pieces (100, 101, 102) during a molding process,
the spacer (1) having:
- an external frame (2), and
- a plurality of spring curved leaves (3),
wherein each spring curved leaf (3) has a fixed end (4) attached to an inner face
of the external frame (2) and a free end (5), and
wherein the free ends (5) of the plurality of spring curved leaves (3) are arranged
to flexibly wrap the one or more pieces to be maintained (100, 101, 102).
2. The spacer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the free ends (5) are movable between
:
- a first position so as to define a first wrapping portion (91), and
- at least a second position, different from the first position, so as to define a
second wrapping portion (92).
3. The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein each free end (5) is
arranged to be in contact with the one or more pieces to be maintained (100, 101,
102).
4. The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the external frame (2)
has an external surface and a groove (20) arranged circumferentially on the external
surface.
5. The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spacer (1) further
has a hinged portion (12) and a lock portion (10, 11) preferably opposed to the hinged
portion (12), and
wherein the spacer (1) is arranged to define :
- an opened position wherein the one or more pieces to be maintained (100, 101, 102)
can be introduced in the spacer (1), and
- a closed position wherein the one or more pieces to be maintained (100, 101, 102)
can be wrapped by the spacer (1) at the level of the free ends (5).
6. The spacer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spacer (1) further has
at least one lock portion (10, 11).
7. The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each spring curved leaf
(3) extends at an oblique angle from the inner face of the external frame (2) and
has a curvature such that the free end (5) of each curved leaf (3) is configured to
contact the one or more pieces to be maintained (100, 101, 102) on a concave side
of the curvature or on a convex side of the curvature.
8. The spacer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the external frame (2)
has at least one outside pin (30).
9. A method for over molding one or more pieces to be maintained (100, 101, 102), the
method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one spacer (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 8,
- providing one or more pieces to be maintained (100, 101, 102),
- installing in a mold (200) the at least one spacer (1), and the one or more pieces
to be maintained (100, 101, 102) in contact with free ends (5) of the spacer (1),
- injecting a sealing material, such as polyurethane, in the mold (200) so as to over
mold the one or more pieces to be maintained (100, 101, 102).
10. The method according to claim 9, further having the step of:
- opening the mold (200) so as to extract the one or more over molded pieces to be
maintained (100, 101, 102).
11. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein
the spacer (1) is according to claim 8, and
the method further comprises the step of :
- placing the at least one outside pin (30) of the spacer (1) in at least one pocket
of the mold (200).